Discount Bus and Rail Fare Programs

DESCRIPTION: People who are elderly and/or have a disability are eligible for discount fares on state-owned bus transit systems as well as rail transportation systems that serve Connecticut. Eligibility requirements and restrictions vary for each transportation agency.

DISCOUNT BUS FARE PROGRAMS: Older adults ages 65+ and people with disabilities can pay reduced fares to ride transit buses when they show the driver their Medicare card or Connecticut Senior/Disabled ID card on all CTTransit (www.cttransit.com/SeniorDisabled/ReducedFareIdCard.asp) buses. Usually, the discount is 50% or less of the standard fare. Other bus transit districts may require documentation of age and disability.

DISCOUNT RAIL FARE PROGRAMS: Amtrak (https://www.amtrak.com/home.html) provides a 10% fare discount for older adults ages 62+ and people with disabilities. Metro-North (http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/fares.htm#b2) rail service to New York City from Connecticut offers a 50% discount off regular one-way fares (except for on-peak morning hours) for older adults ages 65+ and people with disabilities. Documentation of age or disability is required for any rail discount.

**The Connecticut Department of Transportation unveiled a new card, “Go CT Card” as of October 29, 2018, that provides a prepaid card for easy access to use on all CTtransit, CTtransit Express, and CTfastrak busses throughout the state. The same discounts a rider receives with a regular fare ticket, but the card and the funds on it will never expire. Riders will not have to have exact change or purchase a ticket each time.

Transit riders can sign up to receive a card at www.goctcard.com or can call, 877-255-7433.

After receiving the card, riders will need to add transit travel funds (a minimum of $10 and maximum of $500) into the account set up in one of two ways:

funds can be added online at www.goctcard.com, or in person by visiting a participating retailer (CVS Pharmacy and 7-Eleven) or one of the CTtransit Customer Service Centers. There are no service fees associated with adding money to the card – all funds used exclusively for transit fare payments.

Beginning January 1, 2019, the Go CT Card will be available for purchase at the CTtransit Customer Service Centers in Hartford, New Haven, and Stamford; at the North East Transportation Center in Waterbury; at the Meriden Transit District offices; and also at CVS Pharmacy locations and 7-Eleven convenience stores. Until then, CVS and 7-Eleven stores will only offer Go CT Card account reloading services.

A mobile app will be available in early 2019 that will allow customers to access their Go CT Card account and pay transit fares. (If planning to use the mobile app once launched, riders will still need to obtain a Go CT Card in order to create an account.)

2-1-1 is a program of United Way of Connecticut and is supported by the State of Connecticut and Connecticut United Ways.

Central Intake/Assessment for Substance Use Disorder

Substance Use Disorder Programs that serve as an intake for agencies which evaluate individuals who are in need of substance use services and are directed to the number of subsidized beds that may be available in the community. Some programs may also offer medical detoxification services for people who need them.